Automatically positionable gate assembly

ABSTRACT

A gate assembly comprises an angularly displaceable support structure disposed along a path to be gated and a gate member is pivotally mounted on the support structure for pivotal raising and lowering movement between a vertical, nonworking position wherein the gate member does not extend across the path and a horizontal, working position wherein the gate member extends across and blocks the path. The gate member is also mounted for linear movement towards and away from the support structure to enable extremely accurate positioning of the gate member. An oscillatory fluid motor effects angular displacement of the support structure and a set of reciprocatory fluid motors effect raising and lowering of the gate member as well as movement of the gate member towards and away from the support structure. A fluid control circuit automatically actuates the various fluid motors in a predetermined sequence.

United States Patent [191 Panaccione AUTOMATICALLY POSITIONABLE GATE ASSEMBLY [75] Inventor:

[73] Assignee: Sigma-Tau Industries Farmaceutiche Riunite S.p.A., Rome, Italy [22] Filed: July 24, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 274,421

Sergio Panaccione, Rome, Italy [30] Foreign Application Priority Data FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 5/1960 France ..49/338 July 16, 1974 Primary Examiner-Kenneth Downey Attorney, Agent, or Firm- -Robert E. Burns; Emmanuel J. Lobato; Bruce L. Adams [5 7 ABSTRACT A gate assembly comprises an angularly displaceable support structure disposed along a path to be gated and a gate member is pivotally mounted on the support structure for pivotal raising and lowering movement between a vertical, nonworking position wherein the gate member does not extend across the path and a horizontal, working position wherein the gate member extends across and blocks the path. The gate member is also mounted for linear movement towards and away from the support structure to enable extremely accurate positioning of the gate member. An

oscillatory fluid motor effects angular displacement of the support structure and a set of reciprocatory fluid motors effect raising and lowering of the gate member as well as movement of the gate member towards and away from the support structure. A fluid control circuit automatically actuates the various fluid motors in a predetermined sequence.

10 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures The present invention pertains to a gate assembly and more particularly, pertains to a gate assembly which is automatically positionable by a series of motors.

Gate assemblies are in wide use in many fields for controlling and gating roadways, gangways, doorways and other access openings. For example, warehouses have many areas and roadways which are accessible through doors and roads and thus require appropriate gate assemblies to control these openings. Moreover, warehouses frequently have dangerous areas and gate assemblies are necessary to prevent unauthorized or accidental entry into these areas.

Another example is in stores and buildings having numerous doorways which must be gated to prevent unauthorized persons from entering and exiting unauthorized areas. Most of the gate assemblies currently being used are, manually actuated and thus required that at least one hand of the person passing through the opening be free to enable the person to actuate the gateassembly. Thus the prior art gate assemblies are disadvantageous since theyrequire manual actuation.

In addition, most gate assemblies presently available are movable only about a single axis and consequently have a very limited diversity of movement. This shortcoming renders the gate assemblies unsatisfactory for use in obtaining fine positioning or fine adjustment of a gate member and thus greatly limits the use of the presently. available gate assemblies. i

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a gate assembly which is automatically positioned into and out of its working position.

It is anotherobjec-t of the present invention toprovide a gate assembly capable of undergoing diverse positioning movements thereby enabling accurate positioning of the gate member. i

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a gate assembly having a gate memberjmovable with three degrees of freedom of movement and which is automatically actuated in a predetermined sequence.

ployed'to actuate both the gate member and the sup port structure and a fluid control circuit automatically controls the operation of the motors to provide an automated assembly.

Having in mind the above and other objects that will be evident from an understanding of the disclosure, the present inventioncomprises the combinations and arrangements of parts as illustrated in the presently preferred embodiment of the present invention which is hereinafter set forth in sufficient detail to enable those persons skilled inthe art to clearly understand the function, operation, construction and advantages of it when 2 read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view, partlyin section, of the gate assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention; i

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of the gate assembly shown in FIG. 1 and orientated from the position shown in FIGrlj and,

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of one embodiment of a fluid control circuit for controlling actuation of the gate assembly.

The gate assembly 10 is shown in detail in FIGS. 1 and 2 and comprises a base portion 11 having rotatably mounted thereon a support structure 12. A rotary or oscillatory fluid motor 14 isdisposed within the base portion 11 and has an output shaft 15 connected through ball bearings 16 and 17 to the lower portionof the support structure to effect rotation of the support structure 12 in response to energization of the motor 14.

An angularly elevatable gate member 20 is movably ing rods orpins 23 each of which is pivotally connected at eachend to respective ones of the bars 21, 22 to position and maintain the bars in parallel relationship. The bar 21 is connectedat one end to a hub 24 and the bar 22 is connectedatthe same end to a hub 25.

The distance between the hubs 24 and 25 is approximately equal to the length of the connecting rods 23 so that when the gate member 20 is in its downward working position, the bars 21 and 22 extend in a horizontal direction parallel to the ground and the connecting rods 23 extend in a vertical position between the respective bars. As the :gate member iselevated to its nonworking vertical position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the bars 21 and 22 gradually approach each other until they assume the position shown in FIG. 2 and the pivotal connecting rods 23 maintain the bars in their proper relationship relative to each other.

The mounting means comprises a shaft 30 connected to the hub 24 and the shaft is mounted for linear movement by means of a sleeve bushing 32. As seen in FIG. 1, the sleeve bushing 32 contains therein a plurality of antifriction members in sliding contact with the shaft 30 and permitting the shaft to slide axially to and fro relative to the sleeve bushing. The sleeve bushing 32 is rotatably mounted on the support structure 12 by a set of ball bearings 34a and The outer periphery of the sleeve bushing 32 is connected to the inner races of the ball bearings and the outer races of the ball bearings are connected to the support structure thereby permitting the shaft 30 to freely rotate relative to the support structure 12.

The hub 25 is mounted in a similar manner and the hub is connected to a shaft 40 which is mounted for axial reciprocal movement within a sleeve bushing 42.

The sleeve bushing 42 is rotatably mounted on the support structure 12 by suitable ball bearings 44a and 44b.

The actuating means for raising and lowering the gate member 20 comprises a reciprocatory fluid motor 50 comprising a conventional piston-and-cylinder assembly. The cylinder is pivotally mounted at its head end to a rod 52 affixed to the support structure. The cylinder has a double acting piston reciprocally mounted therein and a piston rod extends out of the rod end of the cylinder. The piston rod is pivotally connected to a connecting rod 54 and the connecting rod is splined at its outer end to the shaft 30. By such a splined connection, the connecting rod is rotationally rigid with the shaft 30 but the shaft 30 may undergo axial movement relative to the connecting rod 54.

Motive fluid is selectively applied to and exhausted from the fluid motor 50 to accordingly effect reciprocal movement of the piston and as clearly seen in FIG. 2, when the piston is extended from the cylinder, the extending motion is transmitted to the connecting rod 54 which in turn effects angular turning movement of the shaft 30 to accordingly lower the gate member 20. The stroke of the'piston is suitably chosen such that when the piston is at its fully extended end position, the gate member is situated horizontal to the ground.

The actuating means for effecting linear movement of the gate member includes a set of reciprocatory fluid motors 60, 62 for reciprocating the gate member 20 towards and away from the support structure 12. Each of the reciprocatory motors is of the double-acting type and includes a double-acting piston and suitable ports for admitting and exhausting motive fluid to the motor to effect reciprocation of the piston. The piston rod of the reciprocatory motor 60 is connected to the shaft whereby reciprocal movement of the piston effects a corresponding reciprocal movement of the shaft. In a similar manner, the piston rod of the reciprocatory motor 62 is connected to the shaft 40 to accordingly reciprocate the shaft in response to reciprocation of the motor piston.

During operation of the gate assembly, the oscillatory fluid motor 14 is energized to angularly turn the support structure 12 to the desired angular orientation. Then the reciprocatory fluid motor 50 isenergized to lower the gate member 20 after which the reciprocatory motors 60 and 62 are energized to extend the gate member 20 outwardly from the support structure thereby accurately positioning the gate member across the passage to be blocked.

When it is desired to raise the gate member and restore same to its initial nonworking position, the sequence is reversed and the reciprocatory motors 60 and 62 are energized to retract the gate member 20 back towards the assembly and the reciprocatory motor 50 is energized to raise the gate member after which the oscillatory motor 14 is energized to angularly displace the support structure to its initial position. It is understood that motive fluid is selectively applied to and exhuasted from each of the fluid motors to accordingly control the output motion of each motor and any sequence of operation may be utilized or the motors may all be simultaneously energized.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating one embodiment of a fluid control circuit which may be used to actuate the various motors. As seen in FIG. 3, the fluid control circuit comprises a source of pressurized motive fluid 70 supplying motive fluid through a pressure regulator 71 to a distribution circuit which distributes tee motive fluid to the various motors. The various squares denote the connections and the reservoir connections have been omitted for clarity. For the sake of simplicity and clarity, the reciprocatory motor 62 has likewise not been shown in the drawing and it is understood that this motor is connected in parallel to the reciprocatory motor 60 and is actuated in the same manner. The direction of movement of each motor is controlled by a pilot-operated directional control valve and a suitable pilot circuit is provided for actuating the directional control valves.

A directional control valve 74 controls the flow of motive fluid to the motor 50, a directional control valve 75 controls the flow of motive fluid to the motors 60 and 62, and a directional control valve 76 controls the flow of motive fluid to the oscillatory motor 14. Each of the directional control valves include suitable ports for supplying and exhausting motive fluid to and from the working chambers of their corresponding motor in dependence upon the axial position'of the directional control valve. The reciprocatory motor 50 is also provided with suitable meter-out circuits 78a and 78b which each include a checkvalve for permitting unrestricted inflow of motive fluid into the working chamber and an adjustable flow control valve for adjustably setting the flow rate of the motive fluid exhausting from the working chamber. 8 I

In the embodiment shown, each of the directional control valves is pilot-operated and suitable pilot chambers are provided on either end of the directional control valves to receive pilot fluid to accordingly position the directional-control valves. The directional control valves 75and 76 are double-acting and are shifted into their two working positions solely by pilot pressure whereas the directional control valve 74 issingle-acting and is biased into one position by a spring and is urged into the other directional against the spring force by pilot pressure. The fluid control circuit shown in FIG. 3 effects sequential actuation of the motor 50 followed by actuation of the motors 60 and 62 followed by actuation of the oscillatory motor 14.

A pair of control valves 80,81 initiate the actuation sequence of the motors and are provided with suitable mechanical actuators, for example, the valves may be mechanically actuated by hand, by a threadle or any other similar means. The control valve 80 controls the pilot pressure in the pilot chamber of the directional control valve 74 through a motor position-responsive valve 83 and a one-way check valve 84. The other control valve 81 also controls the pilot pressure in the same pilot chamber through a motor position-responsive valve and a one-way check valve 86. By such an arrangement, actuation of either the control valve 80 or the control valve 81 will permit pilot fluid to flow through the valve 83 or 85 depending upon the position of the motor 14 and then through the check valve 84 or 86 to actuate the directional control valve 74. The check valves 84 and 86 prevent the pilot fluid from flowing back to the source.

The application of pilot fluid to the pilot chamber of the directional control valve 74 shifts the valve to the left permitting motive fluid to flow from the main distribution circuit into one working chamber of the motor 50 and exhausting motive fluid from the other working chamber of the motor. A pair of position-responsive valves 88a and 88b are positioned along the path of travel of the piston rod of the motor 50 and these valves are actuated by the pistong rod during reciprocation of the working piston. The valve 88a controls the application of pilot fluid to one pilot chamber of the directional control valve 75 whereas the valve 88b controls the application of pilot fluid to the other pilot chamber.

Thus depending upon which of the valves 889. or 88b is actuated, the directional control valve 75 will be shifted to the left or right which in turn controls the direction of movement of the reciprocatory motor 60 (and the reciprocatory motor 62).

in a similar fashion, another pair of positionresponsive valves 89a and 89b are positioned along the path of travel of the piston rod of the reciprocatory motor 60. The valves 89a and 89b selectively control the application of pilot fluid to the pilot chambers of the directional control valve 76 to accordingly shift this valve to one of its two working positions to accordingly control the direction of motion of the oscillatory motor 14. The oscillatory motor 14 has an output crank arm 14a connected to its motor shaft and the crank armalternately actuates the position-responsive valves 83 or 85 to accordingly control the position of the directional control valve 74. I

The motive fluid may comprise pressurized air, hydraulic fluid or any other conventional motive fluid. The pilot system can be separate from the main system and different fluids can be employed in each system. The fluid motors may be replaced by either electric motors or any combination of fluid and electric motors may be utilized to position the gate member 20. More over, the reciprocatory motor 50 may be replaced by an oscillatory motor connected directly to the shaft 30 and the lower shaft 40 may be driven instead of the upper shaft 30 or both shafts may be driven.

The invention has been described in conjunction with one particular preferred embodiment and it is to be understood that obvious modifications and changes may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined inthe appended claims.

What i claim is: I

l. A gate assembly comprising: an angularly displaceable support structure disposed along a path to be gated during use of the gate assembly; means mounting said support structure for only angular movement about a generally vertical axis and not axial movement along said axis; a movable gate member; mounting means mounting said gate member on said support fluid motors; and wherein said control system includes structure for movement to a working position wherein same extends across the path depending uponthe angular position of said support structure and a nonworking position wherein same extends out of the path irrespective of the angular position of said support structure; first actuating means for actuating said support structure to angularly displace same into and out of a position wherein said gate member may extend across the path; and second actuating means for actuating said gate member to said working and nonworking positions.

2. A gate assembly according to claim 1; wherein said first actuating means includes an oscillatory motor having an output shaft connected to said support structure and operative when energized to effect angular oscillatory displacement of said support structure; wherein said second actuating means includes a reciprocatory motor having an output member connected to said gate member and operative when energized to effect reciprocal movement of said gate member between said working and non-working positions; and a control system for controlling the energization of said oscillatory and reciprocatory motor.

3. A gate assembly according to claim 2; wherein said oscillatory and reciprocatory motors each comprise means for automatically energizing said fluid motors in.

a predetermined sequence.

4. A gate assembly according to claim 1; wherein said mounting means comprises at least one shaft connected to said. gate member at one endand connected to said second actuating means at the other end, and a set of bearings rotatably mounting said shaft on said support structure. v

5. A gate assembly according to claim 1; wherein said gate member comprises a pair of bars, and a series of connecting rods pivotally connected at each of their ends to respective ones of said bars to interconnect said bars together in parallel relationship; and wherein said mounting means comprises a rotatable shaft connected toeach said bar at an end portion thereof operative to turn said bar in response to turning movement of said shaft, and a set ofv bearings rotatably mounting each shaft on said support structure; and wherein said second actuating means includes means connected to one of said. shafts to turn same to effect turning movement of said bars between said working and nonworking poto said gate member, a sleeve bushing axially fixed relative to said support structure and slidably receiving therethrough said shaft thereby mounting said shaft for axial movement relativeto said support structure, and a set of ball bearings rotatably mounting said sleeve bushing on said support structure; wherein said second actuating means includes means connected to said shaft for effecting angular turning of said shaft accompanied by movement of said gate member; and wherein said third actuating means includes means connected to said shaft for effecting axial movement of said shaft accompanied by movement of said gate member.

8. A gate assembly according to claim7; including a control, system operative to automatically control the operation of said first, second and third actuating means.

9. A gate assembly according to claim 8; wherein said first actuating means includes an oscillatory motor having an output shaft connected to said support structure and operative when energized to effect angular oscillatory displacement of said support structure; wherein said second actuating means includes a reciprocatory motor having an output member connected to said gate member and operative when energized to effect reciprocal movement of said gate member between said working and nonworking positions; wherein said third actuating means includes at least one reciprocatory motor having an output member connected to said gate member operative when energized to effect linear reciprocal movement of said gate member towards and away from said support structure; and wherein said control system controls the energization of said motors.

said motors in a predetermined sequence. 

1. A gate assembly comprising: an angularly displaceable support structure disposed along a path to be gated during use of the gate assembly; means mounting said support structure for only angular movement about a generally vertical axis and not axial movement along said axis; a movable gate member; mounting means mounting said gate member on said support structure for movement to a working position wherein same extends across the path depending upon the angular position of said support structure and a nonworking position wherein same extends out of the path irrespective of the angular position of said support structure; first actuating means for actuating said support structure to angularly displace same into and out of a position wherein said gate member may extend across the path; and second actuating means for actuating said gate member to said working and nonworking positions.
 2. A gate assembly according to claim 1; wherein said first actuating means includes an oscillatory motor having an output shaft connected to said support structure and operative when energized to effect angular oscillatory displacement of said support structure; wherein said second actuating means includes a reciprocatory motor having an output member connected to said gate member and operative when energized to effect reciprocal movement of said gate member between said working and non-working positions; and a control system for controlling the energization of said oscillatory and reciprocatory motor.
 3. A gate assembly according to claim 2; wherein said oscillatory and reciprocatory motors each comprise fluid motors; and wherein said control system includes means for automatically energizing said fluid motors in a predetermined sequence.
 4. A gate assembly according to claim 1; wherein said mounting means comprises at least one shaft connected to said gate member at one end and connected to said second actuating means at the other end, and a set of bearings rotatably mounting said shaft on said support structure.
 5. A gate assembly according to claim 1; wherein said gate member comprises a pair of bars, and a series of connecting rods pivotally connected at each of their ends to respective ones of said bars to interconnect said bars together in parallel relationship; and wherein said mounting means comprises a rotatable shaft connected to each said bar at an end portion thereof operative to turn said bar in response to turning movement of said shaft, and a set of bearings rotatably mounting each shaft on said support structure; and wherein said second actuating means includes means connected to one of said shafts to turn same to effect turning movement of said bars between said working and nonworking positions.
 6. A gate assembly according to claim 1; wherein said mounting means includes means mounting said gate member for movement towards and away from said support structure; and third actuating means for actuatIng said gate member towards and away from said support structure.
 7. A gate assembly according to claim 6; wherein said mounting means comprises at least one shaft connected to said gate member, a sleeve bushing axially fixed relative to said support structure and slidably receiving therethrough said shaft thereby mounting said shaft for axial movement relative to said support structure, and a set of ball bearings rotatably mounting said sleeve bushing on said support structure; wherein said second actuating means includes means connected to said shaft for effecting angular turning of said shaft accompanied by movement of said gate member; and wherein said third actuating means includes means connected to said shaft for effecting axial movement of said shaft accompanied by movement of said gate member.
 8. A gate assembly according to claim 7; including a control system operative to automatically control the operation of said first, second and third actuating means.
 9. A gate assembly according to claim 8; wherein said first actuating means includes an oscillatory motor having an output shaft connected to said support structure and operative when energized to effect angular oscillatory displacement of said support structure; wherein said second actuating means includes a reciprocatory motor having an output member connected to said gate member and operative when energized to effect reciprocal movement of said gate member between said working and nonworking positions; wherein said third actuating means includes at least one reciprocatory motor having an output member connected to said gate member operative when energized to effect linear reciprocal movement of said gate member towards and away from said support structure; and wherein said control system controls the energization of said motors.
 10. A gate assembly according to claim 9; wherein said control system includes means responsive to the positions of said motors for automatically energizing said motors in a predetermined sequence. 